Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh condemn Kiskeam to Senior A relegation decider

Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh 1-12 Kiskeam 0-7

Had this postponed bottom-of-the-table clash between Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh and Kiskeam in the McCarthy Insurance SAFC finished level, both the Gaeltacht and the Duhallow sides might have sealed their senior status for next year.

A sterling if not stellar display by the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí side after the interval at Carrigadrohid however sends Kiskeam into a relegation play-off with Clydra Rovers. 

The first half was a dour affair, the main characteristic on display from both sides being the fear of losing.

Kiskeam went into an early lead, with two points from play coming from Cillian Murphy and Mike Casey in the opening five minutes. This was pegged back thanks to two Diarmuid Mac Thomáis frees, who had been introduced before the throw-in instead of the sharpshooter Ben Seartan. 

Kiskeam's Cork senior Sean Meehan added a point but an equaliser shortly followed after 15 minutes from Donagh Seartan.  Tomás Casey and Mac Thomáis exchanged points each before Seamus Ó Tuama gave the Gaeltacht side a slight edge at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5.

When Pa O'Driscoll restarted the game it seemed like we'd get the same fare. Conchúr Ó Loinsigh for Béal Átha and Sean Sullivan for Kiskeam exchanged points before Béal Átha struck for a goal in the 39th minute.  

It came from a move initiated in the right corner when Dara Ó Ceallacháin passed to Nollaig Ó Laoire who found his other wing-back, Matt Ó Riordáin, and he made no mistake.  This was quickly followed by a Seamus Ó Tuama free giving Béal Átha an advantage of 1-8 to 0-7. 

Points from Conchúr Ó Loinsigh and Seán Ó Múineacháin gave the Gaeltacht side what appeared to be an unassailable lead.

That flurry of scores in the third quarter was decisive enough without Kiskeam midfielder Adrian Carroll getting a second yellow, though Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh forward Seamus Ó Tuama picked up a black card soon after.

Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh will be satisfied with securing their Senior A status despite starting the season with loftier ambitions. There were stand-out performance from Diarmuid Mac Thomáis and Seamus Ó Tuama.

Tomás Casey, who appeared to be carrying an injury, was Kiskeam's most impressive player until his withdrawal late in the second half. 

Scorers for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh: D Mac Thomáis 0-5 (0-2 f), M Ó Riordáin 1-0, D Seartan, C Ó Loinsigh, S Ó Tuama (f) 0-2 each, S Ó Múineacháin 0-1.

Kiskeam: T Casey (0-1 f), S O'Sullivan 0-2 each, S Meehan, M Casey, C Murphy 0-1 each.

BÉAL ÁTHA'N GHAORTHAIDH: D Ó Coill; C Ó Nuanáin, É Ó Duinnín, B Ó hArgáin; C Ó Duinnín, D Seartan, J Ó Donnchú; S Ó Tuama, D Ó Briain; S Ó Luasa, L Ó Críodáin, S Ó Múineacháin; D Mac Thomáis, C Ó Loinsih, N Ó Laoire.

Subs: Dara Ó Ceallacháin for C Ó Duinnín, M Ó Riordáin for Ó Críodáin, G Ó Laoire for Ó Donnchú, Diarmuid Ó Ceallacháin for Ó Luasa, L Seartan for Ó Nuanáin.

KISKEAM: B Daly; D Murphy, J O'Connor, J Daly; AJ O'Connor, S Meehan, Mike Casey; T Dennehy, A Carroll; E Daly, D Fitzgerald, Maurice Casey; S O'Sullivan, T Casey, C Murphy.

Subs: M Herlihy for T Casey, D Scannell for C Murphy, K O'Connor for Fitzgerald, M Collins for Maurice Casey. 

Referee: Pa Driscoll (Bride Rovers).